Sweden Bans M&Ms in Trademark Dispute

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Swedish court ordered candy maker Mars to stop selling M&Ms in the Scandinavian country, at least not with the customary lower-case letters it uses on the packaging and on the colorful chocolates. The Svea Court of Appeal said Wednesday it ruled against Mars in a trademark dispute with Kraft Foods, which sells chocolate-covered peanuts under the Marabou brand with a single “m” on the packaging. The court said Kraft has exclusive rights to the trademark in Sweden. However, it added that using the upper-case M&Ms, as Mars does in its corporate communications, doesn’t constitute a trademark infringement in Sweden. Mars said: “We have always believed no confusion exists” between the two products and that it would “assess the next steps for our beloved brand in Sweden.” Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.